New PolicyWISE report warns of ‘patchwork’ AI literacy across UK and Ireland

front cover showing a robot and justice symbols

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming part of daily life, but a new PolicyWISE briefing warns that citizens’ ability to use it responsibly depends heavily on where they live.

The Wise in Five: AI Literacy briefing compares policies across the UK and Ireland. It finds progress in some nations but highlights gaps and inconsistencies that risk leaving people unprepared for the opportunities and challenges of AI.

  • England: National strategies and a £187m TechFirst programme for schools and communities, but no overarching AI literacy plan.
  • Scotland: Dedicated AI strategy, sector-specific guidance, and a free public course (Living with AI).
  • Wales: Guidance for education, health and social care, with Estyn reviewing AI use in schools.
  • Northern Ireland: Civil service guidance on using generative AI responsibly, and a new AI Collaboration Centre to lead skills work.
  • Republic of Ireland: Legally bound by the EU AI Act, with a refreshed AI strategy and mandatory literacy requirements.

The report identifies five priorities: make AI literacy a national priority, act quickly where strategies are missing, provide trusted sector-specific resources, encourage cross-nation learning, and create a central public AI literacy portal.

Dewi Knight, Director of PolicyWISE, said:
“AI is already shaping how we live and work. But without the right knowledge, people are at risk of using these tools in ways that are unsafe, biased or unfair. Our briefing shows that we need a coordinated effort across the UK and Ireland to ensure every citizen has the skills to use AI confidently and responsibly.”

This briefing was produced by experts from The Open University and the University of Lincoln, including Dr Francine Ryan, Professor Kim Barker, Liz Hardie, Dr Daniel Gooch, and Dr Kevin Waugh. Together they bring expertise in law, online regulation, computing, and education, with a particular focus on how AI and digital technologies are reshaping policy, learning, and society.